TRUE EDUCATION

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 106, 29 January 1919, Page 2

TRUE EDUCATION

ENVIRONMENT. "Environment has ■an enormous influence on the growing child, particularly those conditions provided for him by his parents in the home; the question of his education, and the form it will take being most important," says C. W. Leadbeater in his took "Australia and New Zealand the Home of a'New Sub-Hnce." There has been a vast misunderstanding as to what education really is. For many centuries, and especially during the last'century, it would appear that the whole idea, of education lias not been at nil comprehended'. The real signification of the word is perfectly clear. JJuco means I lend, e means out, so that education men us drawing, out. .The true- intent, therefore, is to draw out the best that is ill tho child in every way. The Fi'(>l:oi system was a step in the right direction, the Montessori method is KiiGluer. and thero are 'jtheiii; li'Jt those who recognise-the. true intent of education are still but few, and the majority of children are still subjected to the old, senseless, and evil methods. The idea prominent' in the minds of "educators iseems to have been for. a long time past to 'criim as many facts as possible into the unfortunate infants committed to their care; facts of no particular value when acquired, and in no way worth the trouble spent in acquiring them. If you think of how much value to you have been most of the things you learned nt school; if you put that ques--tion to yourselves, you will come to the conclusion that at fehool you lost a great deal of timo and trouble. It is roally a- waste of time to make each child a walking ' encyclopaedia. What you want to make him is a healthy, hearty, honourable citizen, who will do his work and understand his duty to his country, to his community, to his fellows, and' to himself. None of these things is to be attained by cramming people with facts, but they are to be drawn out of the child by a proper and rational method of education;' Another and even, worse feature Of tho utter uselessness of education has been tho plan of trying to drive and frighten the children into learning. The' plea of good intention in the case of child-beaters may possibly in., some cases be true, but in most coses it is simply a barbarous custom, an atrocious act of cruelty, thoughtlessly or selfishly committed; and it always means incompetence when a man resorts to force. Such action causes fear, sorrow, pain, and deceit—it causes hatred, timidity, and misunderstanding. The child hates enforced, rules. ' He may be compelled to keep them so long as some representative of power is in sight; but if he is not in sight those rules aro broken. Education is dual—a matter of reciprocal action. • Tho child must learn and you must teach. ]f any sort of transaction w to lake place betweon two parties, surely tho natural way to manago it is to have some sort of co-opera-tion between the two, so that things maj ■ go on smoothly. Get the child on your' side—on the side of the rule, because if you do that, in'so far as he can bo induced to remember, he will keep to the rule whether you are present or whether you are absent. If he complies with tho rule for love of you, nnd because he understands that it is best for him, he is far 'more likely to try' to observo it than if you arouse his ■ emotion against it. Certainly your business as well as your interest with regard to tho children in to keep them happy ail tho time. You will say, perhaps, that fewer facts will then be- acquired. I would say what, then, are facte the most important things to bo acquired? You want virtuous, healthy, happy, bigh-mindod citizens. -, You have an example of the failure of wrong education flaming before your eyes nt the present day. In no country in the world'is education so intenso and so detailed as. in Germany. Has that saved her citizens from committing and applauding, the most flagrant .acts of brutality and treachery that the world has even known? It is not only cramming with facts that you want. You want tho inculcation of virtue and of culture, of kindness, honour, and decency. This idea of education is very different from that commonly held in the world. When a eoul is entrusted to the care, of certain parents there' is a. tremendous responsibility thrown upon them. It is n most sacred work that they have to do for him, and it is tho sanio for the teacher who has to lake charge of the children. ]f ho invokes in them the lovo that he should be able to invoke h& con make them almost what he will. If parents and teacher ai'e careful to invoke the good, (hen when evil qualities come to the surface and try to assert themselves, they will be. thrown aside, and the will of the child will be called into activity on the side of. the good, whereas if you set the evil qualities first develop you will find but little response to your later efforts for good. Mrs! Rolieslon is introducing to Wellington ladies DR. WALDRON'S SPECIALITIES, which are quite new to Now Zealnud, though in high favour with fashionable ladies in England and abroad. An especially good preparation is Dr. Waldron's Massage Cream .for Sunburn, Freckles, etc., at 3s. fid. and ss. Mrs. Rollcston, 256 Lambtou Quay.— ■Advt. '. Be kind (o your scalp and your hair will bo kind to you. A full outfit of proper preparations, with full instruc-. tions simply told for your own home troatment, for J2l Is. (Stale whether hair is greasy, dry, or grey.) ■ Your hair .troubles will cease, if you will consult Miss Ililsom, the woman- who knows. Miss.Milsom, 94 Willis Street. 'Phone BU.-Advt. . ■ THOSE UNSIGHTLY HAIRS. Rusma (Reg.)' has proved so successful in destroying superfluous hair that London Society ladies seek its' aid. Those unsightly hairs may be-, destroyed painlessly and without risk of disfigurement by-using Rusma.- Call for free trial. Mrs. Hullen, Dept. ft, Cbnrtenay Place Tram Terminus. Telephone No. 1047. —■ Advt. Boys' Outfits for schools' reopening. Tweed Shorts, 4s. 6d. to 12s. 6d.; Grey Shirts. ss. to 9s. 6d. School Caps, in all colours, 2s. 6d. and 2s. Ud. Geo. Fowlds, Ltd.-Advt. 'THE SURE SIGN. A dull, persistent train, in the back, an ache that spoils sleep and is worse in the morning, a sharp, cutting pain when bending, is a sure sign of kidney disease. It is not really the hack aching, but the kidneys, which lie just beneath the small of the back. l)o'an's Backache Kidney Pills quickly relieve (.he kidneys and help them to drive out of the body Hie poisonp which cause backache, dropsy, urinary disorders, rheumatism, wravel, stone. The oiwe here given nrovrs that euros ..re thorough:— Mrs. 6. Sutherland, 5 Frnnkville Torrace. Wellington, says: "For a long time I suffered agony from backache, and was often so bad that I was almost crippled. The pain centred just above the kidneys, and cut like a knife. This ailment was mopt distressing, ,-nd the constant pain made mo tired and languid. I knew my kidneys were nt fault, us I had several other symptoms that clearly showed they ivere not working properly. After using all sorts of remedies without deriving any benefit. T heard of Uoau's Pnckarlie "Kidiiev Pills, so decided tfl givo them a trial. Well, they worked wonders, four boHlns elTeeti"? n iicrfeut c-nre, ami I have been free of the torture of backache ever sine. My kidneys are now pli-oik* n'i<l heMthy, >"icl \ feel splendid, thanks to Doan's Pills." Two years later, Mrs/Sutherland says: "T have had no return.. , of mv old complaint since lionn's Backache Kidney Pills cured mo over two vonrs a?o." Donn's Backnchc Kidney Pills are sold by nil rhe'nisH and storekeepers at: 3s. per bottle (six bottles 16s. fid.), or will be nnst'd on reoeint of nricc by FosterM'Clollan Co., 76 Pitt Street. Sydney. But be euro you got DOAN'S.—Advt,